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They're not the same thing! Freeways, which may be Interstates, have controlled access with limited on- and off-ramps. They have no intersections, stop signs or signals. Highways can have intersections and stop signs/signals. At least, that's how this Californian understands it.
Just saying you need to clarify your terms when asking a question like this, because different parts of the country use different terminology.
I think everyone sees Interstates more or less similarly.
Yeah, same. When I lived in Oregon, Highway 97 connected my hometown to Bend and I wouldn't equate that with a "freeway." When it got into town it stopped at intersections (both with traffic signals and just stop signs).
Now that I live in Southern California, I know highway =/= freeway/interstate.
I would go I-95 most important, i think I-80, and I-10 are tied in importance. In California its weird because there are so many freeways that are neither US highways, or interstates. I don't think any state has nearly as many Local non tolled freeways. In most states the only comparable ones would be US highways, winch I think California doesn't have as many since the system dates back to before California had such a larger population. In SoCal alone there are too many to even name.
Not sure I understand your post. The definition of an Interstate is pretty clear. What am I missing?
Interstates have a very hard definition of how they are constructed, down to the inch. If they don't meet the requirements they will not be named "Interstates".
Some people here keep debating the meaning of interstates. Let it go already!
I-80. If America was a person, 80 would be it's spine.
From wiki
"I--80 is the Interstate Highway that most closely approximates the route of the historic Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States. The highway roughly traces other historically significant travel routes in the Western United States: the Oregon Trail across Wyoming and Nebraska, the California Trail across most of Nevada and California, the first transcontinental airmail route, and except in the Great Salt Lake area, the entire route of the First Transcontinental Railroad. "
They're not the same thing! Freeways, which may be Interstates, have controlled access with limited on- and off-ramps. They have no intersections, stop signs or signals. Highways can have intersections and stop signs/signals. At least, that's how this Californian understands it.
Incorrect answer about freeways. The Van Dyke freeway in the northern suburbs of Detroit has stoplights. The speed limit is 70 until you approach 1/4 mile from the signed intersection, where the speed limit drops to 55. The speed limit goes back up to 70 1/4 mile past the signed intersection.
Incorrect answer about freeways. The Van Dyke freeway in the northern suburbs of Detroit has stoplights. The speed limit is 70 until you approach 1/4 mile from the signed intersection, where the speed limit drops to 55. The speed limit goes back up to 70 1/4 mile past the signed intersection.
That's a highway, not a freeway. In general, I think of highways as divided roads with limited stoplights with a minimum speed limit of 55 outside of some cities. Even I-70 has a stoplight in Breezewood, PA, though that's as a connector from a freeway to a tollway. I'd still only rank I-70 as fourth most important east-west highway, behind I-80, I-10, and I-90. I-40 is the fifth most important, as although its longer than I-70, it doesn't seem to have as good of a collection of cities as the former, with Nashville, Raleigh, Memphis, and Oklahoma City the best it can do, while I-70 has Baltimore, Columbus, Indy, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver and isn't too far from DC and Pittsburgh. I-10 and I-90 are close in terms of second and thrid, but for I-10, having three of the top five cities along it along with New Orleans, Jacksonville, San Antonio, El Pason, and Tuscon help out along with the fact that I-90 has cold/severe winters while for I-10, a good air conditioner is all you need for part of the year, along with the fact that most cross-country traffic from the east tends to migrate down toward I-80 or I-55 near Chicago.
After I-95, I'd rate the most important north-south freeways as I-5, I-75, I-35, and I-55. "The 5" of course is the spine of the west coast, all the way from Vancouver as BC 99 down to Tijuana in Baja California I-85 is quite important in the Southeast, and even though the SF Bay Area isn't right on the route, it's a few short connector freeways away from it. I-75 goes from Ft. Lauderdale through Detroit and up into Ontario while passing through Columbus, Atlanta, and Tampa along the way. I-35 is another internationally important highway, connecting Monterrey, Mexico up through San Antonio, DFW, OKC, Kansas City, Des Moines, and eventually the MN Twin Cities. I-55 follows the Mississippi River up through St. Louis before turning towards Chicago.
To answer the question, IMO it is I-80 from San Francisco to New York City. Few Interstate's reach so many populous areas, (though it skirts just south of Chicago). I base this conclusion also on the amount of coast to coast truck traffic. I guess you could make an argument for I-95 on the east coast.
As for US Highways vs. Interstates, there is a big difference. US Highways were the original footprint of automobile highways in the first half of the 20th century. Many are still open today, many also are co-signed with Interstates. Some have been eclipsed by the Interstates. US Highways have fewer regulations, while Interstates have very defined regulations as to lane width, shoulders, exits and onramps, signage, etc. The glory years of Interstate construction, started by President Eisenhower, was 1956-1976. Some new Interstates are being built today, but these projects are small compared to the earlier era.
I-80, also I-70, though its western terminus is in Utah, not the Pacific coast. It goes through (from the west) Utah, then Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, then on to Baltimore with connections to DC.
I-95 connects 5 of the top 10 most populated MSAs: New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Miami, and Boston.
Is there any other Interstate that can claim that sort of statistic?
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